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December 01, 2009

End of my 3rd semester: A thought about teaching

I think I know why students are sometimes confused.

I tell them, "I want you to think for yourselves." At the same time, I say, "Do exactly what I say to do."

The two statements aren't perfect polar opposites, but they do set up a kind of disconnect: You could imagine the students asking, "Why do you tell us exactly what to do if you want us to think for ourselves?"

It might be worthwhile for me to explicitly state, "Do exactly what I say to do SO you can learn how to think for yourselves."